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I would love to share with you our travels and adventures as international
consultants. About living in Italy, the Veneto area near Venice; in Indonesia,
central Java. Why we love the southeast of the United States and moved back from
Italy. Our love for gardening, the botanical way. Sharing with you our manifold
treasures from exotic places and even offering several at Spectrenoir:http://ebay.to/2xI69uc, for others to enjoy. As well as high end silver items from
Giovanni Raspini, Italy |
google.com/+MariettesBacktoBasics

Friday, June 8, 2012

As promised in my previous post, more details about the three centerpieces I used as table setting. Floating Candles with Jasmines and Roses. Also Gardenias, but they too belong to the Jasminoides family. In the 'Old World' we've been taught that for a perfect table setting a center piece should never be towering high above the table, thus obstructing eye-contact for a lively conversation with your table companions. As a host, setting a table with a tall centerpiece conveys a message that the flower arrangement is of more importance to you than easy eye contact and lively conversation between table companions. Those tall pieces are fine on a side table, against the wall. Or even better in a hotel or restaurant, in areas where people are not seated down but are standing around, while conversing and nibbling on some hors d'oeuvres.

Here I used three vintage cream color on cream color Wedgwood gardenia bowls with floating candles, gardenias, jasmines and roses. Check for link below, for availability at Replacements Ltd.

Next post you will get to see the different jasmine varieties and gardenias that I used.

Is any of you using fragrant flowers as table decoration?

Matching candle holders that I've purchased on several trips to Europe, these lace work ceramic holders I found at 'de Bijenkorf' in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, a leading Dutch Department store, like Neiman Marcus in the USA.

In the dark, those candle holders work very well with the lacy cut out design.

Also the yummy recipe from the spicy corn and lentil soup you find in that post as well.

But this overview gives you a good idea about the center pieces with floating candles as well as other candles.

Creating such an atmosphere by daylight is not easy, neither for capturing it all on camera...

Pure romance: lace, candles, fragrant flowers... creating a bit of a thousand and one night atmosphere.

We might bring back to table more of a world-wide blend than the average person, as we've worked and traveled all over the world. Thus integrating the beauty that we've encountered on our journeys.

Maybe it will give you some different ideas too... Just let me know what your opinion is.

The floating candles are also in the shape of a rose.

Very exotic!

The fragrance does take your mind away to exotic places... For us also creating numerous fond memories!

Love the lace work ceramic candle holders... Did also buy some at 'de Bijenkorf' in The Netherlands for gift giving. We use mainly true Dutch Bolsius candles because of their great quality. They are available in the UK but I have no experience with the USA as we purchased ours always on trips home.

Those flowers make a still life...

One floating candle did burn out and its wax has floated onto the green leaf. Those rose candles are not from Bolsius however, they were a sweet gift from a dear friend. She knows how much I do love roses...

Below is a scanned page from an old Victoria Magazine with floating candles...

I agree with you Mariette: flowers and candles which allow dinner guests to converse across the table. Your Wedgewood bowls are gorgeous and so beautiful like this, filled with white flowers and such pretty rose floating candles.

Dearest Mariette It is incredibly beautiful with floating candles and flowers in a water bowl. The smell of gardenia completes the package. The candle holders with lace patterns are also very beautiful.Love // Kajsa

They look really lovely! I never thought about the height if center piece. Next time I see center piece somewhere, I will check if it is at appropriate hight to have easy eye contacts :-) I love the variety of flowers in the bowl. And rose shaped candles, so pretty!